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As he let himself inside, he was stunned by the vision he saw, and his steps stalled. A twenty-something blonde wearing a long, colorful gypsy skirt and a soft green blouse sat on the overstuffed sofa, flanked by Eddie and Cassie. The kids were smiling as she sang a lively tune, her voice soft and melodic, her facial expression animated.
She seemed familiar, but then, Adam had an affinity for blondes.
He remained in the doorway, lulled by the sounds of the stringed instrument and the voice of an angel.
But it was Jim Hoffman’s voice that drew him back to earth. “Adam, I’m glad you’re here.”
Oh. Yeah. He had a purpose, which didn’t include being lured by a pretty musician.
“Am I late?” Adam asked.
“No, not really. But the kids have been waiting for you since breakfast. I told them you wouldn’t let them down. That is, unless an emergency came along.”
He continued to stand in the reception area, watching the kids. They seemed to be so caught up in the song that they didn’t know he’d arrived. Neither did the singer.
Adam nodded his head toward the woman with the golden voice. “Who’s that?”
“Julie Chapman. She’s a new volunteer. She’s also a music therapist—and a good one, apparently. The kids are enthralled.”
So was Adam. Back in the day, when he’d been in foster care and in trouble more times than not, one of his social workers had placed him in therapy, but he’d been resistant. He’d never warmed up to the shrink, who’d probably been an intern. Either way, he’d refused to play games like Parcheesi with him. And back then he damn sure wasn’t going to let anyone into his head, so he’d clammed up until the rookie counselor finally threw in the towel.
But Adam hadn’t realized therapy might consist of music—and a pretty blonde guitarist with an amazing voice.
“Julie’s going to be a nice addition to our program,” Jim said. “Don’t you think?”
Adam nodded in agreement. He was certainly impressed by the way she’d enchanted the kids.
“Julie plays several instruments,” Jim added, “including the piano. She majored in music while in college, and she’s involved in her church choir.”
Now, there was a game changer. Adam made a point of avoiding the good-girl type because he’d come to learn that they usually expected far more from him than a good time and a few laughs. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t watch them from afar. There was something about Julie he found appealing. In fact, she reminded him of Lisa, the sexy flight attendant he’d danced with at the gala. Funny how the two women, who couldn’t possibly be more different from each other, struck him as similar.
The office telephone rang, and Jim excused himself. “I need to get that. Donna is in the back office. She’s on hold with someone from tech support, so she’s tied up at the moment.”
As Jim crossed the room to his desk, Julie looked up and spotted Adam. Her lips parted, as if his arrival—or maybe his appearance—caught her by surprise. So much so, that she missed a couple of strums on the guitar and momentarily stopped singing. But she quickly recovered and turned her attention back to the children.
Adam didn’t think anything of it. Women, even those who weren’t his type, often found him attractive, which made his dating life easy. It also kept him busy. But from day one, he always made sure he and his dates were on the same page and that they realized he wasn’t the kind of man who’d ever settle down.
When the catchy tune ended, Cassie reached out and touched Julie’s guitar with her index finger, the first move Adam had seen her make without her brother’s prompting. It might not seem like much to anyone else, but he saw it as a sign that the timid little girl wasn’t nearly as frightened as she’d been on Saturday night when he and the Hoffmans had brought her here.
When he’d told the kids that he had to leave and that they’d be staying at Kidville, big ol’ tears welled in her eyes, and her little lip quivered. Which is why he’d been eager to return this morning and let both kids know that he hadn’t abandoned them. Hell, even the dog had gotten spooked and run off before the Hoffmans had showed up.
Adam waited a beat before crossing the room and addressing the two siblings. “Hey, Eddie. Cassie. I’m back, just like I promised.”
The boy practically jumped up from his seat, his lips parted, his eyes wide. “Cool. But what about your other promise? What happened to my dog? Did you find him?”
“Yes, I did.” Adam glanced first at Jim, then back to Eddie. “She’s a little skittish, but she’s doing okay.”
“She?” Eddie scrunched his brow and frowned. “Are you sure it’s a girl dog?”
“Yep. I figured that out when I gave her a bath. That’s not a problem, is it?”
Eddie shrugged a scrawny shoulder. “Only because I named her Spike. Now I have to think up something girly.”
Adam glanced at Cassie, who didn’t offer up a suggestion. In fact, she didn’t utter a word.
“So where is she now?” Eddie asked.
A grin tugged at Adam’s lips, and he slowly shook his head. “She’s at my place temporarily.” He’d actually be tempted to keep her, although he wasn’t home much. “But don’t worry. I’ll find the perfect place for her. And who knows, maybe when you have a house with a yard, you can take her to live with you.”
The little boy tensed, his smile faded and his eyes grew wide in near panic. “Are you going to take us back to Brady?”
“No way.” Adam shook his head definitively. “You’re much better off here. Don’t you think?”
Eddie’s expression softened and he nodded. Then he glanced at his sister and back to Adam. “Cassie likes it here, too.”
Adam studied the fair-haired girl who’d let her brother do all the talking on Saturday night. Something told him she still hadn’t spoken. But he suspected she was coming around. At least, Julie and her music seemed to have gotten through to her.
And speaking of Julie, he’d better introduce himself. “I’m Adam Santiago. I volunteer here, too.”
“It’s...” She licked her glossed lips, pink and plump. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Before Adam could say anything else, Jim ended his phone call and joined them.
“Why don’t we go for a walk with the kids?” Jim suggested. “We can take them to the schoolhouse and introduce them to their teacher.”
“Can I go, too?” Julie asked.
“By all means,” Jim said. “I’m sure the kids will like that.”
Julie turned to the children. “I saw the school and the playground when I first got here, and it looks like you’ll have a lot of fun during recess. I’d love to see the inside of the classroom.”
Eddie shot a look at Jim, then at Adam, and back to Jim again. “Okay, but can Cassie come with me—and stay with me? She doesn’t like to be alone.”
“You bet,” Jim said. “We only have a single classroom and one teacher right now, although we’re planning to expand in the future. So our school is a little different from the one you’re used to.”
“I had a class and a teacher once,” Eddie said, “but it was a long time ago. And Cassie never did.”
That wasn’t surprising. From what Adam had gathered during his investigation of Brady Thatcher, the guy hadn’t played any kind of paternal role with the kids. Hell, he hadn’t even noticed they were gone until Adam showed up at his door and told him.
It was a real shame, too. If the kids had gone to school, a teacher might have picked up on their abuse and neglect sooner.
The telephone rang again, and Jim straightened. “Oh, for Pete’s sake. I’m never going to get these kids to school.”
“Go ahead and take that call,” Adam said. “I’ll walk with them to their classroom and introduce them to their teacher.”
Julie, who’d just put her guitar into its case, looked up and smiled. “I’m ready to go with you.”
As they exited the admin office and walked along the wooden sidewalk toward the school, a light breeze kicked up, stirring the air around them, as well as a few strands of Julie’s long blond hair and a whiff of her scent—something citrusy.
Adam stole another peek at her, but the quick glance turned into a steady gaze. He noted her pretty profile. Long, thick lashes. A light dusting of freckles across a slightly turned up nose. Plump, kissable lips. Once again, he caught her scent and considered her similarity to Lisa, the flight attendant he’d danced with at the gala. Apparently their perfume was the latest fashion craze.
He was so caught up with his assessment of Julie that he damn near tripped when they stepped off the wooden boardwalk. He’d better shake off his thoughts and interest before she caught him studying her. Or worse, before he did a face-plant in the dirt.
“I used to love school,” Julie told Eddie and Cassie. “I didn’t have any brothers or sisters, so being on the playground at recess gave me a chance to have a lot of fun with the other kids.”
An only child, huh? The apple of her daddy’s eye, no doubt. And her mama’s pride and joy. Adam had known girls like her, and they’d all steered clear of guys like him, which was just as well. He preferred simple, unencumbered relationships that lasted until one or the other got bored and moved on to someone else.
When they reached the red schoolhouse, he slowed to a stop. “This is it.”
He figured the teacher was expecting the kids, so he opened the door, and they stepped inside the large room that smelled like pencil shavings, crayons and paste.
The teacher, Mrs. Wright, a blonde in her mid-thirties, was walking among the children and passing out math worksheets, none of which seemed to be the same level.
When Jesse Cosgrove, the kid Adam had been mentoring, glanced at the doorway, he brightened and waved. “Hey! Mr. Adam, it’s not Wednesday.”
Adam placed his index finger on his lips, shushing him, then he lifted it in the air and made a circular motion, indicating that the boy should turn around and focus on his work. He followed the silent chastisement with a wink, letting the kid know they’d talk later.
Jesse seemed to understand because he spun in his seat and faced the front of the class. As he studied the math worksheet on his desk, he scrunched his brow, stuck his pencil in his mouth and bit down on what was left of his eraser. Jesse was the oldest boy at Kidville, but he lagged a couple of years behind academically.
“This is what they call a combination class,” Adam told Julie and the kids, repeating what Jim had told him during his first tour of the place. “At this time, they’re only licensed to take children up to the third grade. And from what I’ve heard, Cassie is going to be the only kindergartener.”
Mrs. Wright passed out one last worksheet, then strode to the doorway, stooped and greeted Eddie and Cassie by name. “We were excited to hear we’d have two new friends in class. And we’ve been waiting to meet you. As soon as the other children finish their math, it’ll be time for morning snack and recess.”
Both Eddie and Cassie seemed nervous, but Mrs. Wright was a champ when it came to putting children at ease. So it wouldn’t take long for her to make the two siblings feel welcome. Once she took them to their desks, Adam and Julie left their little charges and headed back the admin office.
Again, Adam caught a hint of her lemon-blossom fragrance.
“Can I ask what perfume you’re wearing?” he asked.
Julie’s steps slowed, and her lips parted. “Excuse me?”
“Your perfume. It’s so familiar to me.”
“Thank you. It’s my shampoo, actually.” She picked up her pace, which compelled him to quicken his steps, too.
“Whatever it is,” he said, “It’s nice. It reminds me of...someone I know.” Lisa. His erstwhile dance partner from the gala. The two women had lots of things in common. Their hair color, their petite stature. Of course, Lisa had been dressed in that skimpy space avenger outfit, and Julie wore a long-sleeve blouse and a skirt that was nearly floor length. She didn’t seem to be the kind of woman who’d be comfortable showing that much skin.
For a moment, he wondered if they might be the same woman, then he quickly discarded the notion. He’d been told Lisa was fun-loving. A risk-taker, like he was.
Adam might follow the rules these days, but he still had a rebellious side that didn’t mix well with good girls who sang in the choir and who had very specific ideas about what they wanted in life.
He stole another glance at Julie. She’d certainly dressed the part this morning, but he couldn’t help envisioning her in that sexy costume. A grin tugged at his lips. What was lurking under the surface?
It might be fun to find out, but Adam decided he’d better rein in his imagination. He didn’t date good girls—at least not intentionally. And the smart ones who’d managed to trick him into believing they had a wild side knew better than to go out with him more than once.
Chapter Three (#u84519651-6202-5f16-98b3-f4229e4ae541)
Apparently, Julie’s efforts to wear a mask and keep a low profile at the Autumn Gala had worked even better than she’d hoped. Adam had no idea that he’d seen her on Saturday night or that they’d danced together. But she’d seen his face clearly enough.
Just minutes ago, when she’d spotted him in the Kidville office, her heart had taken a flying leap, making it difficult to stay on track, to remember the words of the silly song she’d been singing to the kids. Fortunately, she’d recovered quickly. And now here she was, walking along with one of Wexler PD’s finest. And no doubt one of their hottest.
Too bad he was off-limits. She made a point of avoiding men who had high-stress, dangerous jobs. She’d seen firsthand the effect that could have on a man. And the experience had been so painful that she’d broken up with her college boyfriend when he told her he planned to join the military.
Still, she found herself attracted to Adam. And intrigued by him.
“Jim was telling me that you were the one who found the kids,” Julie said.
“They’d broken into my buddy’s truck and stolen a bag of food he’d left on the seat. But I can’t blame them. Brady Thatcher, the guy who was supposed to be looking out for them, was a real loser. He didn’t give a damn about them, and the poor kids were starving.”
“They’re pretty thin,” Julie said. “I’m no pediatrician, but they appear to be malnourished.”
“I’m sure you’re right. Who knows when they last saw a doctor or dentist?”
“Did you go to their house?”
Adam nodded, as they walked back to the admin office. “Once Eddie opened up and gave me enough details to find the house, which was just as neglected as the kids, I arrested Brady for child abuse, as well as a parole violation for possession of a controlled substance.”
“How long will he be in jail?”
“Quite a while. He had several convictions for assault, as well as a drunk and disorderly.”
“I take it that means he’ll have to relinquish custody.”
“Turns out that he never had it in the first place. When their mom disappeared, the kids ended up with him.”
“That’s too bad.”
“It sure is.”
As they walked slowly, Julie’s shoulder brushed against Adam’s, warming her and setting off a tingly sensation. Yet he continued as if he hadn’t felt anything at all.
She stole a glance at him, wishing she didn’t find him so attractive. And so honorable. Clearly, he still didn’t recognize her because she’d worn a mask on Saturday night, but he’d removed his before leaving the gala.
A smile tickled her lips. Even if he hadn’t revealed his face, she had a feeling she would have recognized him anyway—those expressive brown eyes, that dazzling smile. He also had a distinctive voice laced with a slight accent, making it smooth, masculine and alluring.
On top of that, there was something about the way he walked, the way he carried himself. He had a swagger that would be difficult for another man to imitate. And one a woman couldn’t ignore.
As they approached the office, Adam shared some of what Eddie had told him on Saturday night. “He said his mom was nice when she wasn’t drinking, but she drank a lot after Brady moved in with them. I did a background check before going to the house and learned he had a mean streak, even when he was sober. And he’d had a tendency to strike anyone who crossed him.”
“Did Eddie say what happened to his mom?”
“One day, probably while school was out for the summer, Eddie heard them fighting in the bedroom, and when they came out, his mom had a bloody nose. She claimed that she fell while getting out of the bathtub. Then she told him to watch Cassie while she and Brady went out for a little while.”
“He’s way too young to be babysitting now, let alone a year ago.”
“I know. But apparently, he’s been looking after Cassie for a long time. Anyway, Brady came back alone that night. He told Eddie that his mom was going to be a famous movie star. Supposedly she met a Hollywood big shot at the Rusty Wagon.”
“What’s that?” Julie asked.
